Public Health

A mom’s Facebook post warning about a rare condition caused by a single mosquito bite had now gone viral on the internet. Her 6-year-old son had suffered brain swelling and seizures due to a disease identified as La Crosse Encephalitis.

Can sending letters help reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths? Hundreds of doctors were sent notifications of the overdose deaths of their patients, leading to a reduction in opioid prescriptions.

Listen up, men who want to have babies: wearing boxers might do you a favor instead of wearing briefs or other close-fitting undergarments. It turns out men who wear boxers have higher sperm count and concentration.

A woman was told that she tested positive for opiates while in labor at a Maryland hospital. She was confused by the drug test result, but eventually realized that the culprit was what she ate for breakfast that day.

Parents are encouraged to keep their children away from prolonged screen time since it’s linked to poor cardiovascular health and obesity. The American Heart Association recommends no more than two hours a day.

Lyme disease, the tick-borne illness, is now found across all 50 states of the USA. This means that even people in places where Lyme disease was traditionally not a problem should start learning how to protect themselves from being infected.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is cautioning the public against microwaving or dishwashing plastic containers, as they contain harmful chemicals that can be released upon being heated. The group also criticized additives that are presumed safe.

Human swine flu cases have been confirmed in relation to a recently concluded family fair in Michigan. The CDC recommends both exhibitors and attendees to be extra careful when dealing with pigs, especially ones suspected to be ill.

A new Ebola outbreak has just been declared in a Congo war zone. This outbreak is much harder to combat because of the large refugee population and the higher chances of encountering militant groups in the region.

Tianeptine is considered an effective antidepressant drug that can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, its toxicity and opioid-mimicking characteristics make it a potential public health risk.

A man remains positive even after losing four limbs to a blood infection that he got from dog saliva. The bacteria that infected him are not often harmful to humans but may cause severe illness in people with compromised health.

Chicken sickened the most number of people during related outbreaks, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings from the report resulted in divided opinions among poultry experts.

Condoms shouldn’t be reused, the CDC warns. Even if it’s washed with soap and water, that won’t remove harmful organisms on the condom that can lead to more serious complications for both participants.

A man from Wisconsin lost all four limbs to amputation after contracting an infection from bacteria known as capnocytophaga. The man's body reacted aggressively with a rapid drop in blood pressure, causing circulation in his limbs to quickly decline.

The FDA says vaginal rejuvenation devices have not gone through the correct approval process required to show they’re effective or let alone safe to use. These alternative treatments have increased in popularity thanks to the media.

The Hot Water Challenge, which has been around for years, claimed a new victim in a 15-year-old teenager from Indiana. The teen suffered second-degree burns to his chest, back, and face after a prank gone wrong.

People who passed Logan Airport and went to a restaurant in Boston in mid-July may have been exposed to the measles virus. The United States technically eradicated measles in 2000, but the virus still gets into the country.

An 8-year-old girl with autism was allegedly strapped to a chair by her teacher. It is prohibited to use any kind of physical restraint on a child unless there is imminent danger of harm to self or others.

Students who tested positive for toxoplasma gondii, a mind-controlling parasite found in cat feces, were more likely to be a business major. People tested positive for the parasite are also 1.8 times more likely to have started their company.

A woman who had a pedicure at a salon contracted cellulitis, a bacterial infection that can rapidly become life-threatening. Doctors said she may have been infected after a minor cut by a callus cutter.

Doctors on average interrupt their patients 11 seconds after the latter start to speak. Specialists are less likely to give ample time to their patients. What are the factors that contribute to this kind of encounters?

Officials have found dozens of dead raccoons in New York's Central Park, killed by a viral outbreak that is causing the animals to exhibit zombie-like behavior. What is happening to the animals, and should people stay away from them?

What are some food safety tips to avoid getting infections from oysters? Contrary to some people's belief, even experienced oyster lovers cannot determine the presence of harmful bacteria just by seeing, smelling, or tasting an oyster.

Australian scientists developed a blood test that can detect melanoma early and can potentially save thousands of lives. What makes it different and more efficient than current tests for diagnosing skin cancer?

Patients with breast, prostate, lung or colorectal cancer who received complementary therapies are more likely to refuse standard treatment such as chemotherapy and surgery. They also have a higher risk of early death.

After the giant hogweed, there is another invasive plant that people might have to watch out for to avoid serious burns. A Vermont woman shares her experience with wild parsnip to warn the public of its potential dangers.